During the Illinois Section American Water Works Annual Conference in Springfield on March 20, 2012, six utilities competed in the 18th Annual Water Taste Contest to win the title of the best water produced in the State of Illinois.

Among the competitors were the Village of Glencoe, last year's ISAWWA winner; the City of Paris, winner of the 15 County Water Supply Operators Association water taste contest; the City of Elgin, co-winner of the Kane County Water Association water taste contest; The Village of North Aurora, co-winner of the Kane County Water Association water taste contest; the Village of Park Forest, winner of the South Suburban Water Works Association water taste contest and the City of Evanston, winner of the West Shore Water Producers Association water taste contest.

A drinking water sample, produced by each of the six utilities, was submitted and evaluated by a panel of local celebrity judges on water clarity, odor and taste.

Once the scores were tallied, Village of Park Forest was awarded best water produced in the State of Illinois and will be eligible to defend it's title next year at the ISAWWA 19th annual Water Taste Contest and to compete in this year's 8th annual AWWA water taste contest in Dallas, Texas, for the best water produced in North America.

Sincere thanks are extended to the contestants and our judges; Mr. Tom Cavanaugh, Sangamon County Treasurer; Mr. Dean Bair, retired from the State of Illinois Recycling Programs, and Mr. Gene Koontz, current AWWA Vice President.

Only utilities that produce water and are winners of local water association contests are eligible to compete in the ISAWWA's Water Taste Contest. Therefore, if you are a water association looking to host a competition and have your winner participate in next year's 19th annual Water Taste Contest, contact Nora Bertram at (312) 236-9147 or mailto:nbertram@abh-donahue.com.